The very popular life-size walking Gundam is getting a new home at the Gundam Next Future Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka.
Closed down at the end of March, the life-size walking Gundam in Yokohama received over 1.75 million visitors during its lifespan (shown below). While the Gundam didn’t technically walk, it did move and it was very impressive nonetheless.
When I visited the walking Gundam back in 2020, it was genuinely magical. However, following its closing ceremony, I was curious about what would happen to it.
Well, now we know; the walking Gundam will be featured outside the Gundam Next Future Pavilion at the upcoming Expo 2025 in Osaka. The Gundam will not move this time around and will be stuck in a fixed crouching pose outside the venue.
The Gundam also has some minor modifications to its left shoulder, left calf and left skirt armor, and has been given a new designation; that of RX-78F00/E.
What with Shoji Kawamori getting his own pavilion at Expo 2025, the fact that Gundam is going to have a similar presence is entirely understandable.
In short, mecha is still very much part of Japan’s cultural makeup and Expo 2025 seems to be openly celebrating that.
Expo 2025 in Osaka will run from on April 13 until October 13 next year. Details on the expo and tickets can be found on the official website.
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